Iraq to declare final victory over Islamic State after desert campaign - PM

REUTERS

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State has been wiped out in Iraq from a military perspective, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday, adding he would only announce final victory after routing its militants in the desert.
Political disagreements will pave the way for the Sunni militant group to carry out attacks, however, he said, in reference to the central Baghdad government’s dispute with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government over the latter’s declaration of independence following a Sept. 25 referendum.
Abadi, speaking in a weekly news conference, hailed a Supreme Federal Court verdict that ruled the referendum unconstitutional and called on Kurds not to resort to violence.